Prospective First Year Applicants

Prospective First Year Applicants (Domestic)

Applicants who wish to apply for federal financial aid only, including the PLUS Loan (i.e. no need-based Dickinson grant assistance), need only complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is free and there is no fee for its submission or processing. Submitting the FAFSA is required to access federal aid and most state grant programs. The FAFSA should be filed as soon as possible after January 1. We encourage families to file their tax returns early, before completing the FAFSA, and to use the FAFSA IRS Data Retrieval tool to assist them.

Domestic applicants for admission who wish to apply for need-based grant aid from Dickinson for the 2015/16 academic year must submit the 2015/16 CSS PROFILE by the appropriate admission deadline:

November 15 for Early Decision I

December 1 for Early Action

January 15 for Early Decision II

February 1 for Regular Decision

Applicants applying for federal or state aid only (not Dickinson need-based assistance) do not need to complete the CSS PROFILE.

Applicants applying for Dickinson need-based grant assistance and federal/state aid should complete BOTH the CSS PROFILE and the FAFSA.

The CSS PROFILE Student Guide provides the basic information you need to complete your PROFILE application. For a more in-depth guide to the PROFILE process, the College Board has provided a helpful interactive video.

Please note if the applicant's natural parents are divorced, separated or never married, the non-custodial parent must complete the Non-custodial Profile (NCP). Detailed submission instructions are provided to the applicant during the PROFILE registration.

Parent and applicant tax returns should be submitted by April 15. Dickinson has contracted with the College Board to collect tax returns and other verification documents through their IDOC service. Applicants who have filed the PROFILE will receive an email from IDOC with instructions for completing this requirement. Learn More. Applicants for federal aid only should send signed copies of tax returns and W2s directly to the Financial Aid Office.

There is a new IDOC upload option available for 2015/16. Due to an extremely high rate of upload utilization at IDOC, processing is currently taking 5-8 business days. Therefore, your information may be at IDOC, but it just has not been reported to us yet. We will be notified of your upload date when receiving your information.

If an applicant is applying for Dickinson need-based aid the parent(s) will also be required to send a copy of their signed 2013 federal tax returns and W-2's directly to Dickinson's Financial Aid Office. If the applicant and his/her parent(s) have already completed their 2014 tax returns and submitted them to IDOC, then the 2013 tax returns will not be necessary.

It is important to meet published deadlines as financial aid from Dickinson College is awarded on a funds-available basis.

Initial financial aid awards are not considered final until the FAFSA and current year tax returns have been submitted.

Students must reapply for need-based aid each year. In order to receive financial aid, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress, apply on time, and continue to demonstrate financial need.